Chandigarh, 22 December 2024:The government revised election rules on Friday, limiting public access to certain electronic records like polling station CCTV footage, webcasting clips, and candidate videos. The decision was driven by concerns over the misuse of these materials, especially through AI-based tampering.
According to officials, manipulated footage could lead to the spread of fake information. Under the amended rules, such recordings will remain accessible to candidates, while others must seek court approval to obtain them.
The Law Ministry amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Election Commission Rules, 1961, based on a recommendation by the Election Commission. The original rule mandated public availability of all election documents. However, the revised rule now specifies that access will be “as per the rules.”
This change stems from a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that had ordered the release of polling-related documents, including CCTV footage, in a case concerning the Haryana Assembly elections. The Election Commission had objected, arguing that electronic records were not covered under Rule 93. The amendment clarifies the scope of the rule, addressing the ambiguity highlighted by the court’s directive.
